Chapter 22 : The Secret of the Zhou Family

"Reincarnation Realm!! How is that possible?" After hearing these words, even Zhou Tong, with his strong mental composure, couldn't help but inhale a cold breath. He had never expected that the ancestor of Zhou Cang, the founder of the Zhou family, had reached the legendary Reincarnation Realm. It was truly astonishing.

"Hehe." Zhou Cang smiled faintly. "Let me put it this way: your talent is considered outstanding among the younger generation of our Zhou family. However, in the entire Eastern Profound Domain, your talent might not be considered much."

"Uh, Grandpa, is my talent really that weak?" Zhou Tong scratched his head.

Zhou Cang glanced at Zhou Tong and sighed, "Your talent is indeed good, but compared to the ancestor, it falls far short."

"Nowadays, the Tianlin Dynasty is only an intermediate dynasty. In terms of strength, it probably doesn't stand out in the Eastern Profound Domain. However, in the time of the ancestor, the Tianlin Dynasty, under the leadership of the ancestor and the royal family, touched the threshold of a super dynasty." Zhou Cang pondered, "But after the ancestor's fall, the royal family of the dynasty declined repeatedly, and the Zhou family gradually declined as well. In the ancestor's era, there were dozens of individuals in the Zhou family who reached the Vitality Profound Realm. But now, only I have touched the threshold of the Vitality Profound Realm. It's truly lamentable!"

Zhou Cang shook his head helplessly, as if recalling the past years.

Zhou Tong was also secretly amazed. With Zhou Cang's talent, he was undoubtedly at the top level within the Zhou family. He had never thought that there would be such a huge disparity when compared to the Zhou family's past.

"But how could such a powerful ancestor fall? A Reincarnation Realm expert could dominate the entire Profound Domain." Zhou Tong asked in confusion.

"Sigh..." Zhou Cang sighed. "My ancestor was indeed powerful. In his peak period, even compared to the geniuses of the top forces in the super dynasties, he was not inferior. Moreover, the ancestor's strength was far from being as simple as it seemed on the surface."

"The fall of the ancestor was only because of one thing..." Zhou Cang's tone suddenly became serious, and he looked at Zhou Tong, saying, "Do you know about the Spatial Ancestral Symbol?"

"Spatial Ancestral Symbol? Isn't that the text I saw in the Abyssal Mirror?" Zhou Tong asked in confusion.

"That's why I brought you here. The Abyssal Mirror was an item held by the ancestor. After the ancestor, no one in the Zhou family could use it until your appearance," Zhou Cang said with a bitter smile. "The Abyssal Mirror was obtained by the ancestor through a fortuitous encounter. It was crafted with the power of the Spatial Ancestral Symbol. In that period, our ancestor used the Spatial Ancestral Symbol to enter the Reincarnation Realm, establishing the vast family legacy of the Zhou family. Unfortunately, the exposure of the Spatial Ancestral Symbol attracted powerful enemies, leading to the ancestor's demise."

"Then, what powerful enemy could cause the fall of the ancestor?" Zhou Tong couldn't help but ask.

"Demons." Zhou Cang said solemnly. "In ancient times, there was a catastrophe, and the demons were a significant cause of that calamity. They came from beyond this world, plundering the vitality of heaven and earth, devouring living beings. They were the enemies of the entire world." Zhou Cang spoke with great gravity.

"Between heaven and earth, there are eight ancestral symbols born from the rules of heaven and earth. In ancient times, Lord Ancestor was the master of these eight ancestral symbols. In the following ages, the ancestral symbols scattered throughout the heavens and the earth. No one could gather them again, but even obtaining one of them would make someone a top powerhouse of their time!"

"The Spatial Ancestral Symbol is one of them. The first owner of the Spatial Ancestral Symbol was Lord Ancestor, and later it became the master of the Spatial Domain, the one who used the Spatial Ancestral Symbol most flexibly. After him, no one reached his level. In ancient times, when the demons tried to invade the Profound Domain, Lord Ancestor eventually burned his reincarnation to block the dimensional cracks at the cost of his life, keeping the demons outside and protecting the peace of the Profound Domain for thousands of years. The master of the Spatial Domain was also sent into reincarnation, entering a deep slumber. Since then, the Spatial Ancestral Symbol has been lost to the world. The last holder was my ancestor of the Zhou family. However, the exposure of the Spatial Ancestral Symbol attracted the pursuit of demons, leading to the demise of the ancestor."

"That's why our ancestor fell, only because of one thing..." Zhou Cang continued, "Do you know about the Abyssal Mirror? Why did my bracelet react with this spiritual treasure? What is the connection between this spiritual treasure and my ancestor?"

Zhou Tong asked in confusion.

"Your bracelet was something I found during my travels outside. When the ancestor obtained the Abyssal Mirror, the spiritual treasure was already damaged. A good friend of the ancestor forged the broken piece with a strange object from the heavens and earth. Eventually, it was crafted into a bracelet. However, the bracelet was lost during the battle against the demons. When I was young, I read records in the clan and found the bracelet during my travels. At that time, I even fought with some people for it, but in the end, I won. This bracelet was also used by your father back then, but he did not gain the recognition of the Abyssal Mirror. Therefore, he passed it on to you."

Zhou Cang paused and continued, "The Abyssal Mirror is a derivative of the Spatial Ancestral Symbol, containing the laws of space. If you can comprehend the Abyssal Mirror, you will be able to grasp the laws of space, thereby touching the threshold of top powerhouses!"

"So, the Abyssal Mirror is made with the Spatial Ancestral Symbol." Zhou Tong exclaimed inwardly.

"The ancestor laid down rules before his fall. If anyone were to obtain the recognition of the Abyssal Mirror, a ceremony to recognize the ancestral symbol would be held. You are the first descendant after the ancestor, and the following trial is up to you." Zhou Cang pointed to a silver stone tablet deep in the cave.

"That is the Spatial Monument left by the ancestor. The ancestral symbol is within it. I have been practicing here for years, but I have never received the recognition of the ancestral symbol." Zhou Cang sighed.

The Spatial Monument was engraved with intricate and complex lines, giving people a sense of sacred solemnity.

"The recognition of the ancestral symbol..."

Zhou Tong muttered to himself and then stepped forward.

Zhou Tong stared at the lines on the stone tablet,

Hum—

At the moment when Zhou Tong's palm touched the tablet, it suddenly emitted a strange light. Following that, Zhou Tong's mind roared, as if entering another world. Everything around him turned into an illusory scene.

At the same time, it seemed like Zhou Tong's spiritual power had left his body.

"What is this..."

Zhou Tong had never encountered such a scene before. Could it be that he had entered the world of the ancestral symbol?

At this moment, a voice echoed in Zhou Tong's ears.

"I am Zhou Zongxiao of the Zhou family, a descendant of the Zhou clan. To inherit the Spatial Ancestral Symbol, you must undergo a trial."

"Please instruct, Ancestor!" Zhou Tong bowed, feeling that this was the voice of an ancestor of the Zhou family.

"Find the Spatial Ancestral Symbol and activate it. Merge yourself into the ancestral symbol. Only when you completely merge with it can you gain the recognition of the Spatial Ancestral Symbol." The voice of Zhou Zongxiao echoed in Zhou Tong's mind.